I had a will signing last night at the home of a couple in nearby Tucker, with my friend and colleague Kristy Seidenberg. I am a notary, so I notarize wills and other documents for Kristy.
I don't usually write about my working life, but I am bending the rule a tiny bit here, for a good reason. Kristy is a very non-traditional attorney. She doesn't have an expensive office in Buckhead or midtown. Her clients almost always meet with her in their own homes, where they can wear sweats and bedroom slippers if they want to.
Kristy is the only Atlanta attorney I know who makes housecalls on a regular basis.
Sometimes her clients who don't want to meet in their homes choose a restaurant. Sometimes they come to my house. (I have a big dining room table to spread out documents.)
Kristy also does education law, representing parents who need help getting their child treated fairly by the school system. Kristy was a teacher before she became an attorney, and she is a mom. So she is uniquely qualified to understand how to help parents.
Last night's will signing was unusual, for a couple of reasons. One, the couple has the most interesting home I've ever seen. It's filled with paintings, antiques, photos, and cats. Beautiful home. Two, Kristy is gluten intolerant and they provided a flourless chocolate torte to celebrate the completion of their wills and estate documents.
I love working with Kristy on these estate planning jaunts because the clients are always, always extremely nice people, and the atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed. It doesn't even feel like I am working.
What Kristy does, too, is so important. She truly cares about people and her compassion is amazing. We recently went to a hospital on a weekend to help with estate planning for a man who was ill. He passed away not long afterwards. Kristy's caring for his wife and children and her willingness to help the family was a huge blessing.
On a recent excursion to finalize a will, the client threw a party afterwards and all her friends were there laughing and chatting. It was a lot of fun.
Kristy's clients routinely hug her. How many attorneys can you say THAT about?!
Anyway, I have been privileged to work with Kristy now for almost a year, and the longer I work with her the more my admiration grows.
Kristy and my mom
